US signs Afghanistan transit deal with Tajikistan (click here)
1 day ago
DUSHANBE (AFP) — The United States and Tajikistan have agreed a deal on the transit of non-military cargoes for Western operations in Afghanistan, US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher said on Tuesday.
"Yes, it's done," Boucher said in response to a question about the long-expected transit deal with the ex-Soviet republic that neighbours Afghanistan.
The transit of cargoes destined to support Western troops in Afghanistan could begin as soon as one month from now, Boucher said during a visit to the Tajik capital.
Washington has been seeking new routes for supplies to Afghanistan after Kyrgyzstan announced earlier this year that it was closing a key US airbase, and amid increasing instability along the main transit route through Pakistan....
Bin Laden Deputy Mocks Obama`s Strategy for Afghanistan
Monday April 20, 2009 (2116 PST)
(Quqnoos)-Ayman Al-Zawahri, the fugitive deputy of Osama Bin Laden, the top leader of Al Qaeda network in a new internet recording criticises the new plan of the US President Barack Obama to send extra troops to Afghanistan.
Al-Zawahri`s comments were posted on a militant Web site Monday, AP Reports.
The reaction comes as the US President approved in February to send an additional 17,000 troops to the restive Afghan south where the Taliban-led insurgency is mounting.
According to the Associated Press, in the new Internet recording, Ayman al-Zawahri also urges al-Qaida in Iraq to "break the borders" of neighboring countries and liberate Jerusalem from the Israelis.
Osama Bin Laden`s top lieutenant also lashed out at Egypt for mediating talks between rival Palestinian factions.
Al-Zawahri says those talks are aimed at pressuring the Islamic Hamas group to accept peace with Israel.
Osama Bin Laden and Amyan Al Zawahri are the two most wanted Al Qaeda leaders that hold millions of dollars US prize on their heads.
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Al-Zawahri`s comments were posted on a militant Web site Monday, AP Reports.
The reaction comes as the US President approved in February to send an additional 17,000 troops to the restive Afghan south where the Taliban-led insurgency is mounting.
According to the Associated Press, in the new Internet recording, Ayman al-Zawahri also urges al-Qaida in Iraq to "break the borders" of neighboring countries and liberate Jerusalem from the Israelis.
Osama Bin Laden`s top lieutenant also lashed out at Egypt for mediating talks between rival Palestinian factions.
Al-Zawahri says those talks are aimed at pressuring the Islamic Hamas group to accept peace with Israel.
Osama Bin Laden and Amyan Al Zawahri are the two most wanted Al Qaeda leaders that hold millions of dollars US prize on their heads.
End.
Eight Taliban militants have reportedly been killed by Afghan security forces and US troops in separate attacks in southern Afghanistan.
Afghanistan's Interior Ministry announced on Tuesday that the insurgents were killed in the province of Uruzgan near the Pakistani border.
According to the US military, another militant was killed and a suspect detained during an operation in neighboring Kandahar....
